Dog-crate.



Patenfed May 27, I902.

No. 700,8l7.

J. c. PORTEBFIELD.

DOG CRATE.

(Application filed May 16, 1901.)

(No Model.)

I I I f ll llll I i WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN C. PORTERFIELD, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

DOG-CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 700,817, dated May 27,1902.

Application filed May 15. 1901,. Serial No. 60,263. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN G. PORTERFIELD,

a citizen of the United States, residing at C0- lumbus, in the county ofFranklin and State of Ohio, have invented a certain newv and usefulImprovement in Dog-Crates, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the improvement of dog-crates of that classwhich are adapted for the convenient transportation of dogs; and theobjects of my invention are to provide an improved construction ofdog-crate the parts of which are so arranged as to admit of their beingreadily folded into knockdown form, to so construct the same as toprovide a strong and durable crate, to provide improved means fordetachably connect ing the top therewith and for locking the crate inits knockdown or folded form, to so construct my improved crate as tofacilitate the cleaning of the same, and to produce other improvements,the details of construction of which will be more fully pointed outhereinafter. These objects I accomplish in the manner illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view in perspective of myimproved crate, showing the same in its completed form. Fig. 2 is an endview of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail view in perspective of a portion ofone of the side top rails,illustrating the manner of detachablyconnecting the top therewith. Fig. 4 is a detail view in perspective ofthe upper portion of one of the corners of the crate-body. Fig. 5 is adetail view in perspective of one of the combined hasps and hinges whichI employ in connecting one side of the top with one of the verticalsides of the crate-body. Fig. 6 is an end view of my improved crate whenclosed; and

Fig. 7 is a detail view in perspective of a por tion of one of the cratesides, illustrating the manner of uniting the vertical slats thereof.Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In carrying out my invention I employ a horizontal crate-bottom 1, fromthe opposite longer sides of'which rise base side boards 2 and 3, thelatter being higher than the former, for the reason hereinafter setforth. Hinged to the upper sides of these side boards 2 and 3 are thecrate sides 4 and 5, the hinges there- 'of being indicated more clearlyat 6 in Fig.

6. In producing each of these longer sides of the box or crate I employan oblong frame -7, within which are arranged vertical fillingslats 8,the latter being united, as indicated more clearly in Fig. 7 of thedrawings, through the medium of transverse rods 9, which are boundtoeach of the slats by binding-wires 10. As shown in the drawings, thealternate slats are shortened, resulting in the formation of ahorizontal row of openings or windows 11 in the upper portion of each ofthe sides. The vertical end posts of the frames 7 and 6 when the latterare in their upright positions abut against the vertical side bars ofthe end frames 12, which being, as prescribed for the side frames 7,filled or partially filled with the long and short slats 5 form the endsof the crate. As prescribed for the sides 5,'the ends of the crate havetheir lower portions hinged in connection with the bottom 1, one of saidends preferably being hinged to a bottom cleat, so as to bring thehinges thereof on a higher plane than the hinges ofthe other. Asindicated more clearly in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the ends and sides ofthe crate are detachably connected in their upper portionsthrough themedium of suitably-formed-catch-yokes 13, one of-which embraces each endof the upper horizontal bar of each of the end frames 12, the ends ofthe arms of said catch-yoke being pivotally connected with said frame.The outer end of each of the yokes is adapted when pressed down to ahorizontal position to engage an upwardly-projecting tongue or verticalcatchpiece 14., which is arranged to extend in front of a recess 15,formed in the inner side or face of the adjoining side frame 7.

The sides, ends, and bottom being connected in'the manner described, thetop, which is indicated'at 16, is preferably bowed throughout'its lengthand providedwith arched end .pieces 16, and is adapted to be placed uponthe'body of the crate and detachably connected and hinged therewith inthe following manner: On the outer face of the upper horizontal bar ofthe frame 7 of the side 5 I secure catch-plates 17, each of saidcatch-plates being formed with an outwardly-bent loop portion 18, (seeFig. 3,) into which are adapted to be hooked the ends of hook-bars 19,the

shanks of which are united to the under side of the top 16, adjacent toone edge thereof. Adjacent to its opposite longer ends said top hassecured thereto hinge members 20, with the downturned outer ends ofwhich are jointedly connected, as indicated in Fig. 5, hasps 21, theslotted end portions of which are adapted to receive lock-staples 2.2,which project from the side 4 of the crate. Arranged vertically beneaththe catch-plates 17 and secured to the base-board 3 of the side 5 arevertical bars 23, the upper end portions of each of which is formed withan opening 24. As indicated at 25, the ends 16 of the top may beprovided with handhold openings.

As indicated more clearly in Fig. 7 of the drawings, those portions ofthe slats which form the sides or frames of the windows or openings 11and the corresponding openings in the ends of the crate are covered orbound with sheet-metal strips 26 to protect the same against beinggnawed or splintered.

When it is desired to fold the crate into a compact or knockdown formwhen not desired for use, it is obvious that the hasp 21 may be removedfrom the staple 22 and the top or lid raised until its hook-bars 19 maybe disengaged from the catch-plates 17. This being accomplished, thecatch-yokes 13 are raised out of engagement with the bars or plates 14and the ends of the crate folded inward one upon the other, whichoperation is followed by thev inward-folding movement of the sides 4 and5. The folded sides and ends may again be securely connected with thetop 16 by engaging the hooks 19 of the top with the openings 24 of theside bars 23, and the hasp 21 may be made to receive a staple 27, whichis made to project from the base-board 2.

It will be seen that when the crate is in its upright or completed formaccess to the animals contained therein may be readily gained byremoving or throwing back the top or lid 16, thus uncovering the entirecrate and not only facilitating the removal of the dogs therefrom, butpermitting the interior of the crate to be readily washed, cleansed, ordisinfected.

Although not herein shown, it is obvious that one of the crate endsmight be provided with a suitable doorway and door therefor.

Owing to the vertically-slatted construction of the sides and ends andthe bowed construction of the top of my improved crate, it will.

the opposing sides and ends of the crate are hinged at difierentheights.

It will be understood that when the crate is in its folded or knockdowncondition the hasp may be locked or latched into connection with thebase-board staple, thus producing a substantially integral body, whichmay be shipped without danger of breaking, unfolding, or separation ofits parts.

Having now fully described my invention, what 1 claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

'In a dog-crate, the combination of a floorsection, side and endsections hinged thereto, said side and end sections each consisting of aframe embracing a plurality of verticallyarranged slats, transverse rodsuniting said slats and the alternate slats formed with the openings 11and means for detachably con+ necting said side and end sections,catchplates 17 on one of said side sections and a staple 22 on theopposing section, upright catch-bars 23 affixed to a vertical sideextension of the floor-section, a staple 27 projecting from the opposingvertical side extensions of the floor-section, a top 16, hook-bars 19 onone side thereof and a hinged hasp 21 depending from the opposite side,substantially as specified.

JOHN C. PORTERFIELD.

In presence of,

C. O. SHEPHERD, W. L. MoaRoW.

